(Guest post by Suzy and Henry – The Librarians)
From 16 to 20 March, we will be marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week with an exciting programme of free online and in-person events, co-produced by the East Sussex Autism Partnership Board, a group of people with both lived and professional experience of autism.
If you haven’t booked your place already, reserve your spot on our free webinars throughout the week and at our big community celebration ‘Unity in Diversity’ at the Towner Art Gallery on Friday 20 March. Book your place at Neurodiversity Celebration Week now as spaces are filling up fast!
In honour of the upcoming celebration week, our librarian, Suzy, has chosen a mix of fiction and nonfiction, many featuring neurodivergent authors.
Adult fiction
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
Aster, an autistic botanist and healer aboard a generation ship sailing through the stars.
Folks call her an ogre and a freak. She’s used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she was truly a monster, she’d be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remained of her world.
Reserve the eBook of An Unkindness of Ghosts
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
The story of a father and his neurodivergent son battling the harm we are doing our planet.
Reserve the paperback of Bewilderment
Audiobook
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
This novel tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend.
From her place in the store, she remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.
Klara’s perspective and behaviours have been described as having autistic-coded, neurodivergent traits. Her experiences include a highly literal approach to language, intense observation of social cues, and a unique way of processing the world.
Listen to the e-audio of Kara and the Sun on Borrowbox
Reserve the paperback of Klara and the Sun
Comic Book
Lavender Clouds by Bex Ollerton
A dazzling, humorous, and highly personal portrayal of neurodivergence from a leading voice in mental health comics.
Reserve the paperback of Lavender Clouds
Adult Non Fiction
Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD, Autism and Neurodivergence by Ellie Middleton
Whether you are neurodivergent, suspect you might be, or want to be a better ally, this title will help you make sense of it all, and put the power in your hands.
Reserve the paperback of Unmasked
Different, Not Less: A Neurodivergent’s Guide to Embracing Your True Self and Finding Your Happily Ever After by Chloe Hayden
An empowering lived-experience guide to celebrating and supporting neurodivergence from 24-year-old actor, social media star and disability advocate Chloe Hayden.
Reserve the paperback of Different, Not less
Small Talk: 10 ADHD Lies and How to Stop Believing Them by Richard & Roxanne Pink
With candour and kindness, they share personal stories to highlight and reframe the 10 big lies that ADHD people believe about themselves. It will help you live your best neurodivergent life.
Reserve the paperback of Small Talk
Young Adult
Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley
This lovely, often funny, relatable and sensitive story about Frankie, a girl with autism, was inspired by the author Aoife Dooley’s own real-life experiences. Readers will be cheering Frankie on as she deals with bullies, finds what she’s good at and comes to understand herself a little better: a great story about growing up and learning who you are.
Reserve the paperback of Frankie’s World
Junior
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Addie campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there’s more to the story of these ‘witches’, just like there is more to hers. Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and her autism, and make her voice heard?
Reserve the paperback of A Kind of Spark
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Ted likes the weather, he also likes statistics and routine, but his life is thrown into disarray when his cousin Salim goes missing!
Ted is an endearing character and the focus of the story is on the solving of a mystery rather than his Asperger’s syndrome. This is a beautifully written and engaging book.
Reserve the paperback of The London Eye Mystery
Minna’s Masks by Louise Gooding and illustrated by Irina Avgustinovich
Meet Minna and learn about the concept of masking in this informative and inclusive picture book on neurodiversity.
Minna’s Masks teaches children aged 3-5 all about the awesome abilities that neurodiverse individuals have and gives them a safe space to feel accepted.
Reserve the paperback of Minna’s Masks
Junior nonfiction
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity by Laura Petix
Neurodiversity is what makes our world beautiful, and the author teaches us the importance of celebrating the unique ways in which our brains help us learn, feel, and experience life!
